Teaming above the line

When courage and compassion combine, teams flourish and achieve great things. When fear and pride predominate, teams flounder and more often, fail.

Whether teams flounder or flourish, is because of each team members choice to play either above or below the line.

Team members who play above the line:

• hold themselves to their highest standards of personal integrity rather than rely on external validation and approval

• accept and look to contrasting opinions to help broaden their knowledge and understanding rather than assert their opinions as being right or better

• take responsibility for their own emotions and internal state rather than blame or be the victim of other’s feelings

• accept the normality of uncertainty – they accept what they can’t control or predict rather than be intolerant of ambiguity 

• seek the learning from other’s criticism rather than reject or defend themselves from it 

Flourishing teams happen by design, not default; they evolve from commitment, not coincidence. 

Take a moment to reflect on your team members’ experience of you – would they say you  play more above or below the line? Now, go ask them and commit to them.